2008 Basic Support Program

Overview
Organizations in the Missouri Foundation for Health's (MFH) service region provide a variety of preventive and direct health service programs for the uninsured, underinsured and underserved. MFH recognizes that these organizations have funding needs to support ongoing activities that meet an identified community need and have a track record of success.

Through this program, MFH considers proposals from eligible organizations to fund ongoing costs that are central to the achievement of an organization's mission. These funds can only be used for existing salaries and benefits, equipment and supplies.

The following are the guidelines for the 2008 Basic Support Program::

• Organizations eligible for funding must have a 501(c)(3) tax status. The Foundation's Bylaws prohibit supplanting established governmental healthcare programs.
  Note: Government agencies cannot apply for Basic Support funding, but are eligible to apply for other MFH funding programs.
• An eligible organization must spend at least two-thirds of its total annual expenses on health program(s) within the MFH service region. This requirement ensures organizational focus on health programs.
• Organizations must be located within the MFH service region and have an annual expense budget of $10 million or less. In-kind expenses are not considered in determining the size of an organization’s annual expense budget.
• Former or current MFH grantees are eligible to apply, with the exception of grantees that have an active Basic Support or General Support for Advocacy grant award at the time of the application deadline for this cycle.
• The total of current MFH funding from other grants as well as funding allocated to this application may not exceed 25% of an organization’s annual expense as determined from Form 990. All current MFH grants and contracts are considered in calculating an organization's 25% limit.

MFH will determine the amount of grant funding for an organization based on the number of eligible applications reviewed, the amount of an applicant's annual expenses, and available MFH funding. Precise budget requests are no longer required.

2008 Funding Cycles

Cycle II:
Opens: March 24, 2008
Closes: Applications are due to MFH offices no later than 4 p.m. on May 8, 2008.
Board funding decisions: July 2008

How to Apply

The Basic Support program is designed to support organizations whose primary purpose is providing established health programs to the uninsured, underinsured and underserved within the MFH service region.

Organizations that are not candidates for Basic Support are those whose primary purpose is to provide services for: child day care, employment assistance, financial counseling, fundraising, housing assistance, independent living, mentoring, recreational camping or tutoring.

To determine eligibility, please answer the following questions:

Step 1: Complete Eligibility Quiz below. A copy of this eligibility quiz must be submitted with an application.

Eligibility Quiz. To determine eligibility, please answer the following questions:

Tax Status - To be eligible for Basic Support funding, an organization must be a nonprofit organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Note: Government agencies cannot apply for Basic Support funding, but are eligible to apply for other MFH funding programs.

Does your organization have an IRS tax determination letter stating that your organization is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3)?

_____No. Stop here. Your organization is not eligible for Basic Support.
_____Yes. Proceed to the next question.

Established Health Program(s) - An organization must have an established health program(s) and spend at least two-thirds of its total annual expenses on health program(s) within the MFH service region.

The two-thirds requirement is calculated from your most recent Form 990. Divide Program Service Expense for health programs (listed in Part III) by the organization's total expense as listed in Part I.

Does your organization spend at least two-thirds of its total annual expense on established health program(s) within the MFH service region?

_____No. Stop here. Your organization is not eligible for Basic Support.
_____Yes. Proceed to the next question.

Location and Size - Eligible organizations must be located within the MFH service region and have an annual expense budget of $10 million or less. Note: In-kind expenses are not considered in determining the size of an organization's annual expense budget.

Is your organization located within the MFH service region and have an annual
expense budget of $10 million or less?

_____No. Stop here. Your organization is not eligible for Basic Support.
_____Yes. Proceed to the next question.

One Application Limit - An organization may submit only one Basic Support application per year.

Has your organization already applied for a Basic Support grant in 2008?

_____Yes. Stop here. Your organization is not eligible for Basic Support.
_____No. Proceed to the next question.

Active Grants - Grantees that have an active Basic Support or General Support for Advocacy grant award at the time of the application deadline for this cycle are not eligible to apply. An active grant is a grant that has undisbursed grant funds remaining as of the application deadline.

Does your organization have an active Basic Support or General Support of Advocacy grant award from MFH that continues past this application deadline?

_____Yes. Stop here. Your organization is currently not eligible for Basic
Support.
_____No. Your organization is eligible to apply for Basic Support funding.

Grant Award Limits - MFH will determine the amount of grant awards for each qualified applicant based on available MFH funding and the guidelines listed below:

Organizations with total annual expenses (as determined from most recent Form 990 total expense line) of $5 million or less may receive up to $50,000 per year (up to $100,000 total grant award), depending on the total number of applications reviewed and MFH funding availability in this cycle.

Organizations with total annual expenses (as determined from most recent Form 990 total expense line) between $5 million and $10 million may receive up to $100,000 per year ($200,000 total grant award), depending on the total number of applications reviewed and MFH funding availability in this cycle.

The total of current annual MFH funding from other grants as well as funding allocated to this application may not exceed 25% of an organization's annual expense as determined from Form 990.

Step 2: If organization is eligible, contact MFH at info@mffh.org or call 314.345.5575 to request a Basic Support packet. This packet contains dividers that separate sections of your proposal to expedite processing. Applications received without these dividers will not be processed.

Please note: After Friday, May 2, application packets will no longer be mailed and should be picked up at MFH offices, 1000 St. Louis Union Station, Suite 400, St. Louis, MO 63103.

Step 3: In addition to the packet requested from MFH, you will need to complete the Basic Support application form. The following link will direct you to the form:
MFH Basic Support application

Inquiries
Any questions regarding the Basic Support Program may be directed to: Deena Lauver Scotti, 314.345.5556 (toll-free 800.655.5560) or dlauverscotti@mffh.org.

Are you a grantee with questions about your Basic Support grant?
Check the Frequently Asked Questions page for help with some common questions.
FAQ - Basic Support Grants Awarded 2004 - 2006 (PDF)
FAQ - Basic Support Grants Awarded 2007-2008 (PDF)